Relations between drug companies and doctors need clearer boundaries

Specific measures are recommended to ensure that interactions between doctors and drug companies are consistent with the public interest. Gifts should be accepted only if decision-making is left manifestly unimpaired. Support for travel to conferences organised by professional societies should be restricted to people making formal contributions. Entertainment expenses should not be lavish. Access of representatives to students and health services should be limited. Sponsorship of meetings should be provided only through independently organised scientific committees and speakers should indicate dualities of interest at the time of presentation. Sources of commercial funding should not influence the scientific, educational or public policy decisions of professional bodies, which should not associate themselves directly or indirectly with promotion of products of commercial sponsors.

Additional steps should be taken to minimise biases in research and publication, which require action not only by individual practitioners but also by the industry, government and academia.

It is important that the community is able to have confidence in the independence of medical practitioners and researchers. To guarantee this, significant changes are needed, which will entail a substantial cultural shift and no doubt take some time to realise fully.

The process will not be without pain. However, the outcome will, it is hoped, offer the best of both possible worlds: a rigorous, independent and critical profession in partnership with a productive, creative industry serving the needs of the community.